More choooons..

I seem to have a thing about lists. Or, as they aren't in order, 'compilations' is the word, I guess. So here are ten songs I love right now (:

10. Shontelle- T Shirt



It wouldn't usually be my thing- it's reasonably cliché, very mainstream and not particularly deep. But something about the smoothness fo Shontelle's voice and her feelings in the line 'When I'm missing you' has let the song worm it's way into my heart.

9. The Who- Baba O'Riley



I have only recently discovered the genius of The Who- shocking considering my prowess in the classic rock genre. This is certainly my favourite track so far; the synthesizer is so original, and I can''t get over the raw emotion in his voice when he sings 'Don't cry/Don't raise your eyes/ It's only teenage wasteland.' It's a classic.

8. Dashboard Confessional- Hands Down



This is "Hands Down" my favourite Dashboard track ever because of the absolutely adorable lyrics about the best date the lead singer ever had. "And you stood at your door/ with your hands on my waist/ and you kissed me like you meant it' evokes images of some dark moolit street in the pouring rain, no? And I love Chris Carraba. A lot.

7. Filter- Take A Picture



When I first downloaded this song, based on the line 'I feel like a newborn' (having heard it in a movie) I kind of assumed it was a soft rock love song. Wrong. It's a song about being drunk on a plane and stripping. I love it even more because of this, and the guys silky smooth croon-y vocals. This version is live, though.

6. Kerli Koiv- Walking On Air



I adore this song because it's so unlike anything I've ever heard before. I can't put my finger on what makes it so distinctive; the video certainly helps. I can't even remember how I found it but it's worked it's way to the top of my heart, so it's worth a listen.

5. Blink 182- Apple Shampoo



This is an old love affair that's been recently rekindled. It's one of my favourite Blink songs, and in honour of their reunion (can you say YAY?!) I've been listening to them a lot lately. This is in their early days when they were all thrashy and most of their lyrics were toilet humour, so it's nice to see a hint of the serious side to come.

4. Asobi Seksu- Nefi and Girly



I heard this song on a trailer for Skins and I've been addicted ever since. It's my most played song on iTunes, which must say something. I love the high pitched vocals, basic beats and profound lyrics combined with a simple but devastating riff. And the band name means 'casual sex' in Japanese.

3. Art Brut- Good Weekend



Art Brut: daft, poppy, shouty, simple, stunning. There you go, that's the band in five words. This song is their best one. All together now; 'Got myself a brand new girlfriend!' Sorry but this video was the only one I could find that wasn't live, so it has pictures of freaking owls on it. Ignore that and listen to the song, I beg you.

2. Tujiko Nuriko- White Film



Thank you, Skins. No really; thank you. This song is so simple but that's half of it's charm. I love Tujiko's whispery vocals; the song is so heartbreaking somehow. It always gets me in the zone; I'm not sure what zone, though, and if that's a good or bad thing.

1. The Dodos- Walking



Well, within a day of downloading, this song had 38 plays on my iTunes. It's just a simple, acoustic-y song with in depth lyrics and for some reason, it's brooding melancholia combined with the sighing vocals of some unnamed man attracted me to it.

Best kisses continued!

Well, after I finished my little compilation of amazing screen kisses, more and more kept flooding back to me. So, here's part two!

Titanic



It's a classic, okay? And, cheesy as some people think it is; I disagree. It's a gorgeous love story. I have a huge girl crush on Kate Winslet and I think she's amazing whatever she does, but this is so her finest hour. And Leo? Everything else he's ever done pales in comparison with this movie. This is probably the greatest and most heartbreaking love story ever commited to celluloid, and this scene emphasises that to the max. The cinematography, the scene, the score... just everything.

Just Like Heaven



I have the biggest crush in the universe on Mark Ruffalo. He is so, so, so, so, cute and every time I watch this I imagine my face on Reese Witherspoon's body. It's such a gorgeous setting for a kiss and the light is amazing as well as that beautiful slow pan around the garden. Aaaaah. Oh, and I totally love that guy at the end. "Righteous!"

Notting Hill



Okay, Hugh Grant is like, my dream guy. I know he's old enough to be my Dad; but that grumpy British thing with the floppy dark hair and those baby blues is irresistable. Damn you, Julia Roberts, for your perfection: but the scene in the garden takes my breath away. "Now what in the world could make that ordeal worthwhile?" .. "Nice garden." This is a classic scene from a classic movie, and even the Ronan Keating doesn't take that away.

Vertigo



Anyone who knows anything about cinema will have heard something about this groundbreaking kiss. Like I said before, Hitchcock was the master of his art in every way, and that definately includes screen kisses. This one has the same sort of surreal feel to it that the Rear Window kiss had, and indeed, James Stewart is also the male half of this kiss; the female half has been replaced by Kim Novak, an astoundingly elegant blonde not unlike Grace Kelly.

Ever After



It's always upset me how underrated this movie is because it truly is beautiful. Dougray Scott - trés, trés hot. I love anything with Drew in it, because she's got this earnest beauty and a real talent for acting. But this scene is so cute: Henry doesn't care about classes anymore, he doesn't care who she is, where she's from, what she did, as long as she loves him. Anything that has me paraphrashing the Backstreet Boys has to be special, no?

Breakfast At Tiffany's



Audrey Hepburn is possibly the most beautiful woman who ever lived. George Peppard is really, really cute in this movie: fact. He's so eloquent, I'd kill for a guy like him. This scene is one of the best moments in cinema: it's raining, Audrey is in it and "Moon River" is playing in the background. It's perfection, to be honest. If I can find a love like Holly Golightly and Paul Varjak (in the movie version, anyway) I'll never want for anything more.

Ghost



I don't even want to think about how much this scene has been taken the piss out of, but to be so well known, it has to be special, right? Demi is gorgeous, Patrick is steamy, and the Righteous brothers are playing in the background of possibly the most tender sex scene in history. There's little else to say, so watch it and see for yourself. Sorry about the shit quality of the video!

The best movie kisses.. ever

I was watching a movie with my friend last night. This movie was fairly mediocre; except it had the most amazing kissing scene ever. And it got me thinking about screen kisses; and, being as cool as I am, I decided to compile a list of them. Not in order or anything; just a collection of my personal favourites.

The Girl Next Door



This is the best movie kiss, ever, ever, ever. The way Emile Hirsch runs up to Elisha Cuthbert, pushes the other guy out of the way and just kisses her like he totally means it absolutely kills me. I don't know a girl who wouldn't want a kiss exactly like that. Everything about it is perfect, not least of all the music (David Gray, who I love, expecially that song!) and the look on her face when he kisses her. And I love the whole swinging angle thing- reminiscent of Vertigo, no? I'm sorry that this is taped from a TV but it's the best version I could find on YouTube. Enjoy- I certainly did.

My Blueberry Nights



This is defined as an 'art' movie, so I guess this is an 'art' kiss; in that case, give me some art kisses please? I've always had a weak spot for Jude Law, which definately helps; but I love the shots interspersed with the gorgeous upside-down kiss (way better than the Spiderman one) of blueberry pie (watch the film. It's like a theme.. oh, it's hard to explain, but isn't it beautiful?)Who knew Norah Jones was such a good actress, too?

Cruel Intentions



Ignore, if you will, the infamous lesbian kiss. This has to be one of the best kisses/sex scenes in history. It is so, so, so beautiful, with beautiful music and beautiful acting and real, frank chemistry between two actors who eventualy married. I'd acutally say maybe this kiss ties with The Girl Next Door as my favourite- please, watch this clip and appreciate how beautifully, perfectly done it all is.

The Notebook



I know it's cliché to like this movie- it's so mainstream now-but this kiss had to be in the list because it really is amazing. To be kissed in the pourng rain- a dream of any girl, no? I love the way the anger turns into pure indiluted passion between two people who are in a very bittersweet form of love. Just a beautiful movie and a classic kiss.

Rear Window



Hitchcock knew how to do a movie kiss, that's for sure. I'm not even sure what it is about this clip that strikes me so much. Maybe it's just how stunning Grace Kelly is. Maybe it's the way the footage is filmed to give it a dreamlike quality. Maybe it's the sleuth half-smile that comes on James Stewart's face when he sees Grace in front of him. I don't know, but it makes for one of the best kisses in history.

A Cinderella Story



Again, a thoroughly mediocre movie gives way to a beautiful, beautiful kiss. The music is probably what clinches it for me (I love Jimmy Eat World) but Chad Michael Murray might have something to do with it. I hate Hilary Duff, so she knocks some points off, but then the rain (ending a drought in the movie) makes up for it. It's maybe a bit thick and frothy; but in a good way. Honest.

Brokeback Mountain



Some people hold unmitigated grudges aganst films demonstrating same sex relationships. Well, not me. This is one of the most fantastically stunning movies I have ever seen in my life, and one of the tenderest love stories. I've never cared more about two characters, and the cinematography of this kiss is beyond amazing. The awkwardness is there, but firmly hand in hand with something deeper: two straight men who are hopelessly in love. Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger at their absolute finest.

Gone With The Wind



Often considered the best movie of all time, Gone With The Wind is famous for its' kisses between Rhett and Scarlett, and you can see why. The thing is, this kiss is romantic at the same time as being exactly the opposite. Clark Gable's strength and forcefulness domintate the screen as much as Vivien Leigh's defiance to make for a very interesting Hollywood kiss between two of the most attractive people who ever lived.

The Last Kiss



I LOVE the dialogue before this kiss. I love the delicacy that Braff touches Bilson with. I love how this is one of the only movies in the world that you actually want the affair to win out over the girlfriend- don't get me wrong, Jacinda Barrett was amazing and all, but really, Kim and Michael just needed to be together. I adore Kim; she's exactly the sort of wayward, free spirited beauty that I'd love to be, but this looseness is coupled by an endearing vulnerability and a need to be cared for. Such a good movie!

Never Been Kissed



This is one of the best atmospheric screen kisses I've ever seen. The tension at first, the tears in Josie's eyes; she thinks Sam isn't going to come and she thinks she's lost him for good. The tears well up and she thinks it's over. Until the cheering erupts and there he is; he runs into the middle of the field and kisses her in the most romantic way I've ever known. All this, and to a soundtrack of the Beach Boys? What more could you want? (BTW: the credits from the end of the movie are tagged onto the end of this video. It's really annoying.)

Movie Review: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Having read the play by Edward Albee some months ago and having a high opinion of it, I thought it was about time I got around to watching the film, starring the beautiful Elizabeth Taylor and the astounding Richard Burton. And I wasn't disappointed: not only was it an extremely faithful adaptation, the cinematography incorprated soem new ideas which reduced the clasutrophobia of the original setting and made it even better!




This is one of my favourite clips from the movie: Taylor is s beautiful and so ugly at the same time, and the agony on Burton's face slays me. And is this or is this not the best line delivery in history? "I hope that was an empty bottle, George. You can't afford to waste good liquor on your salary." Just a taste of the acerbic, ironic and downright insane themes of the play.

See, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is possibly the most exquisite example of mindfuck literacy ever written. The basic premise is that of a dysfunctional, middle-aged couple, George and Martha, and their marriage that is as full of hatred as it is anything else. They invite an attractive young couple who are young in town to their house and chaos ensues when Martha lets slip about their 'son'- who is revealed to be imaginary, a figment of the couple's imagination to dull the boredom of their lives. But the way this revelation is unfolded is so, so, so screwy.

Albee was quoted as saying that Taylor was 'quite good' and Burton was 'incredible' and I must agree. While Taylor recieved the most hype, because she was such a beautiful woman playing such a vulgar role, Burton's raw emotion in the role was beyond incredible. There's a moment in the film where George begins laughing hysterically until the giggles descend into sobs, and the feeling etched onto Burton's face could not have come from anyone else because it was so utterly convincing. He quite stole the show, actually.

Thought provoking? Definately. But it's also exquisitely filmed, perfectly cast and the meticulous attention to detail does not go unnappreciated. And here, I leave you with a clip of Burton getting angry as an example of why this movie is so intelligent.